Wow! I've been having a blast! I have done so many crazy cool things in the past week...
Last Saturday, Sunday and Monday we were in Wellington and Tami and I took some time to explore the city. We watched a cricket game, had some great ice cream near the port, and found a fountain that was bubbled. We went to TePapa which is a big Museum in Wellington, and then did a bit of shopping. Saturday night we went out and experienced the night life... which was fun after a couple of bottles of wine in our room. We found this awesome 80's bar and danced for a bit before we called it a night. What a good time!
On Tuesday we took the ferry from the north island to the south island where we were greeted with amazing view and good weather. I can tell already that the south island is going to be way more beautiful and exciting than the north. Our first city stop was Nelson... a very liveable city.
Sunday was a day that a lot of people went skydiving. Since I've done it before and I'm trying to stay somewhat on budget... Tami and I took a free hike in the foothills instead. It was so gorgeous. It reminded me a lot of being in Colorado with the really blue sky with the white puffy clouds and the really big hills covered with pine trees. We were originally take a 45 minute hike to the "Center of New Zealand".. but 5 hours later we finally returned from a very long 10 mile hike. So, we might have gotten a little bit lost.. but it was a beautiful hike down by the river. And while hiking... it was so weird. Instead of seeing deer in the forest, there were sheep! Gotta love New Zealand!
On Wednesday Tami and I decided to have a cultural experience by going on a wine tour. New Zealand is know for its wine... and we got to try it all! It was so cool to be drinking wine and sitting right next to the fields where the grapes are growing. I learned a lot about wine as well... I will have to share my knowledge with you all over a glass,... or bottle... sometime!
Thurday morning we were up early and off to Able Tasman National Park for a couple days of camping. The weather wasn't quite as nice as we would have liked it.. for it was drizzling and kinda cool, but we made the 10 mile hike with our big packs on anyways. The hike wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, because the path was smooth and the views were Amazing- even with the rain. When we arrive, we set up camp and explored a bit.
Friday was a great day. The weather was perfect, hot and sunny with a cool breeze and the first thing that Tami and I did after breakfast was a little bit of sea kayaking followed by a nice snooze on the beach while working on our tans (which by the way are getting pretty dark). Of course we did that all with SPF 45 on because there is a whole in the ozone over New Zealand so burn time is 6 minutes). After some lunch is was a hike to an amazing waterfall, into which we jumped in and experienced the freezing cold water for our self. The hike there was amazing as well and consisted of crawling over huge rocks and walking through streams. (I am a little bruised from the experience!) Afterwards, a little more sea kayaking to an island called "seal island" where we saw tons of seals! The would jump in the water and splash right next to our kayaks! It was the coolest thing. We topped the night off with some tag on the beach at sunset and a good sleep in the tent.
Saturday was our last day at Able Tasman, so we packed up camp and kayaked back to mainland.. seeing more seals in the process. The kayaking is so peaceful and really gives you a good workout at the same time! We drove back to Nelson for a quick shower and some food, and then in the vans for 5 hours to our next destination of Kaikoura.
This morning was the most amazing thing. We woke up at 5 Am to go swimming with dolphins. We dressed up in head to toe wet suits and hopped on a boat which took us out about 20 minuets into the Pacific Ocean. Suddenly... there were dolphins jumping everywhere! Everywhere you looked there were fins and splashing dolphins. The boat driver thought there were about 700 of them! So, we all jumped in the water and played with them. We had on a mask and snorkel and the second that you looked under the water.. all that you could see was dolphins swimming around you. It was so invigorating and so cool to be that near to them. The dolphins were wild dusky dolphins, just swimming in the middle of the pacific ocean. No cages, no pools, no nets, no feeding them..... just dolphins in their natural habitat. The would swim right up to you and look you right in the face and then you could swim in circles with them. Seriously... it was the coolest thing ever. The rest of the day is a free day for us, so I am just catching up on things and taking in all what has happened in the past couple of days.
I miss you all and hope that you all are enjoying life. Happy 21st Birthday Brian! I'll treat you to a drink and show in Australia. Good luck on your flights.
Last Saturday, Sunday and Monday we were in Wellington and Tami and I took some time to explore the city. We watched a cricket game, had some great ice cream near the port, and found a fountain that was bubbled. We went to TePapa which is a big Museum in Wellington, and then did a bit of shopping. Saturday night we went out and experienced the night life... which was fun after a couple of bottles of wine in our room. We found this awesome 80's bar and danced for a bit before we called it a night. What a good time!
On Tuesday we took the ferry from the north island to the south island where we were greeted with amazing view and good weather. I can tell already that the south island is going to be way more beautiful and exciting than the north. Our first city stop was Nelson... a very liveable city.
Sunday was a day that a lot of people went skydiving. Since I've done it before and I'm trying to stay somewhat on budget... Tami and I took a free hike in the foothills instead. It was so gorgeous. It reminded me a lot of being in Colorado with the really blue sky with the white puffy clouds and the really big hills covered with pine trees. We were originally take a 45 minute hike to the "Center of New Zealand".. but 5 hours later we finally returned from a very long 10 mile hike. So, we might have gotten a little bit lost.. but it was a beautiful hike down by the river. And while hiking... it was so weird. Instead of seeing deer in the forest, there were sheep! Gotta love New Zealand!
On Wednesday Tami and I decided to have a cultural experience by going on a wine tour. New Zealand is know for its wine... and we got to try it all! It was so cool to be drinking wine and sitting right next to the fields where the grapes are growing. I learned a lot about wine as well... I will have to share my knowledge with you all over a glass,... or bottle... sometime!
Thurday morning we were up early and off to Able Tasman National Park for a couple days of camping. The weather wasn't quite as nice as we would have liked it.. for it was drizzling and kinda cool, but we made the 10 mile hike with our big packs on anyways. The hike wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, because the path was smooth and the views were Amazing- even with the rain. When we arrive, we set up camp and explored a bit.
Friday was a great day. The weather was perfect, hot and sunny with a cool breeze and the first thing that Tami and I did after breakfast was a little bit of sea kayaking followed by a nice snooze on the beach while working on our tans (which by the way are getting pretty dark). Of course we did that all with SPF 45 on because there is a whole in the ozone over New Zealand so burn time is 6 minutes). After some lunch is was a hike to an amazing waterfall, into which we jumped in and experienced the freezing cold water for our self. The hike there was amazing as well and consisted of crawling over huge rocks and walking through streams. (I am a little bruised from the experience!) Afterwards, a little more sea kayaking to an island called "seal island" where we saw tons of seals! The would jump in the water and splash right next to our kayaks! It was the coolest thing. We topped the night off with some tag on the beach at sunset and a good sleep in the tent.
Saturday was our last day at Able Tasman, so we packed up camp and kayaked back to mainland.. seeing more seals in the process. The kayaking is so peaceful and really gives you a good workout at the same time! We drove back to Nelson for a quick shower and some food, and then in the vans for 5 hours to our next destination of Kaikoura.
This morning was the most amazing thing. We woke up at 5 Am to go swimming with dolphins. We dressed up in head to toe wet suits and hopped on a boat which took us out about 20 minuets into the Pacific Ocean. Suddenly... there were dolphins jumping everywhere! Everywhere you looked there were fins and splashing dolphins. The boat driver thought there were about 700 of them! So, we all jumped in the water and played with them. We had on a mask and snorkel and the second that you looked under the water.. all that you could see was dolphins swimming around you. It was so invigorating and so cool to be that near to them. The dolphins were wild dusky dolphins, just swimming in the middle of the pacific ocean. No cages, no pools, no nets, no feeding them..... just dolphins in their natural habitat. The would swim right up to you and look you right in the face and then you could swim in circles with them. Seriously... it was the coolest thing ever. The rest of the day is a free day for us, so I am just catching up on things and taking in all what has happened in the past couple of days.
I miss you all and hope that you all are enjoying life. Happy 21st Birthday Brian! I'll treat you to a drink and show in Australia. Good luck on your flights.
3 comments:
2/4/07
Julie,
You continue to amaze me! Swimming with the dolphins is so cool. And the great photos with the really BLUE sky. Just got back from Newport, RI on a bay near the ocean. Quite the hot spot in summer, but cold and isolated in Jan. Badger B-ball team is still doing good. Lost to Indiana on Wed. but beat NW on Sat. Still rated #2 in the nation! Trying to say warm in Wisco with -14 degree weather...but sunny today. Have a happy Valentine Day where ever you are,
Aunt Kathi
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH there are no words! this is amazing!
xoxox
mal
I don't know Julie!! It is amazing how you are doing so many neat things, but every day it is like you are doing something different and fun! It doesn't get old! It is so great reading about it all too! Sounds like I should start working on my tan before I see you...
Kim
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